The saddest thing about this story was not that the pigs went power hungry, or Boxer was betrayed and got turned into paste or even that nothing changed through the whole book. The saddest part was that it could have worked. All the animals helping each other and creating a good environment that is beneficial to everyone.
I personally think that the pigs got thrown over the edge was because they got the alcohol. I predicted this on page seven because I knew that the pigs would turn up like Farmer Jones and I read that he was drinking a lot. Before the Battle of the Windmill Napoleon was evil and changes the commandment that states "No animal shall kill any other animal" to "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause". This is terrible yet still logical. When it gets really bad is when the pigs get into the champagne and they want more and more. Later in the story they change three more commandments, a sign of going crazier, and kill Boxer for being a loose end. Before they try the alcohol they don't change any laws. After they try it they change four laws. A significant change.
Animal Farm and Animalism relates to Communism because they both want everyone to be equal. They also don’t work for a leader that bosses them around. This sounds like a good thing but this Animalism soon evolves into Dictatorship where they all seem to trust Napoleon without reason to. They all still help themselves in an Communistic environment but most of the harvest goes to Napoleon for doing nothing.
I think that this could happen successfully in real life if the Animals were not so dumb. If the Animals were smarter than they would be able to tell if commandments were being changed, when Napoleon was being a dictator and when Boxer was taken away. They would know not to get into the alcohol and would follow the commandments to heart.
I really don’t know what to see Boxer as. A very hard worker who has lived out his days? A loose end that needs to eat? A loss that the farm can’t afford? I think we all agree that killing Boxer was not a very good solution. And sending Boxer to the slaughterhouse was evil but this was not Comrade Napoleon fault, but Boxers own. With his blind faith in Napoleon he “trusted him to death”. All Napoleon had to do was lead him to die.
You made some unique insights into the causes of corruption in the story, but you should be aware that the book is an allegory, and all of the characters are metaphorical for something in the context of the time the book was written, communist Russia. Knowledge of that could help your interpretations progress.
ReplyDeleteFor a first time a think I did a great job.
DeleteI agree with ben with how you have some realy good insights but i think you should look at the story through the pigs point of view or possibley the humans perspective that would also help your insight
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some really good points, and I think it's ok that you're left with some questions like the ones about boxer. I don't think he was any kind of a loose end, he was incredibly valuable to the farm and the pigs. I just think that when Boxer got hurt was when Napoleon was discovering his inner capitalist. He had the chance to sell boxer for alcohol, which by that time I felt he was clearly addicted to. You're right too that it could have worked. loved your intro - very thoughtful. But you go on to articulate the biggest problem inherent with Communism... human nature.
ReplyDeleteThough all of this was done very well, don't forget quotes / references from the text, and making connections to yourself, the world, and other texts. that would make this post great!
Good work.